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Family Court Services Unit


The Family Court Services Unit was developed to assist judges and general magistrates with some of the Court's most difficult family cases, reducing case delays while tending to the unique needs of divorcing parents and their children.  Through short-term interventions and services that focus upon solutions rather than conflicts, Family Court Services staff members help parents reach understandings and resolve issues together. They act as the eyes and ears of the court, reporting to the judiciary on findings and recommendations and providing written agreements which outline parties' commitment to resolve specific family problems.

Support to families is provided with particular sensitivity to the needs of children. Click here to view some very special drawings, which remind us that parents get divorced from each other, not from their children. [Compiled from Family Court Services' support group sessions for children of divorcing parents.]


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Family Court Services Unit


What assistance is provided by the Family Court Services Unit?

How can someone access these services?

What are the address, telephone number and hours of operation?

What fees are involved with the services and who is responsible for payment?

I have been court-ordered to the Family Court Services Unit. Are they responsible for scheduling hearings in my case with the judge or general Magistrate?

I have a case in Family Court. Who do I call if I have questions?

Who do I call if I am a person with a disability who needs assistance?





What assistance is provided by the Family Court Services Unit?

The following court-ordered services/interventions are provided by the Family Court Services Unit:

Crisis Assistance

Provide Rapid, transitory response when the judiciary finds that an issue
requires urgent attention such as when imminent danger to parent or child might
exist

Alienation/
Reunification

Explore and assist with parental alienation and/or feelings of estrangement
experienced by a child toward a parent while attempting to reestablish the
relationship

Child/Family
Assistance

Assistance with issues immediately affecting the welfare of the children
through interviews with family members and through observations of their
relationship with each other

Co-parenting

Short term parenting coordination and re-education that emphasizes
improvement of joint parenting skills and communication; referrals to community
agencies/professionals for counseling may be provided.

Marital
Reconciliation 

Assists parents in clarifying parties’ motivation to separate/divorce and provides
referral as needed.

Time-sharing issues/
Schedule

Addressing the parties' issues regarding the sharing of their child(ren), assisting
parties in the clarification of an existing time-sharing plan and/or the
development of a more meaningful arrangement

Parenting Coordination
(for indigent)

Designation of parenting coordinator to assist the parties in the facilitation of
their parenting plan, monitor compliance of court orders, and provide
referrals to community resources as needed (6 meetings per order)

Supervised Visitation/
Monitored Exchanges

Observation of and/or assistance in optimal time between parent/grand-parent
and child in a friendly environment when the physical and/or emotional welfare of the child may be otherwise threatened

Community Referral

Assists in the referrals to community agencies and/or private professionals for
counseling, extended co-parenting, parenting classes, psychological/psychiatric evaluations, parenting coordination, and DNA testing

Social Investigation

Home Study facilitated(standardized Order for Social Investigation must
accompany referral to FCS)

Substance Abuse Testing

The Village is available to administer drug tests and breathalyzer by separate
court order.

 

How can someone access these services?

A court order is necessary to obtain assistance from the Family Court Services Unit. Family Court Services participants are referred to the Unit through the Family Division, Domestic Violence Division, Unified Family Court, and General Magistrates. An order of referral must be signed and a copy forwarded to Family Court Services in order to facilitate the activation of an office file. The parties are required to contact the Unit within 5 working days for the provision of initial data or the court will be noticed of non-compliance.


What are the address, telephone number and hours of operation?

Family Court Services operates during normal business hours, 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM, and includes extended hours for Supervised Visitation on Mondays and Wednesdays, 8:00 AM until 8 PM and Saturdays, 10 AM until 4 PM.  


What fees are involved with the services and who is responsible for payment?

As of April 1, 2001, $10.00 per hour will be assessed for supervised visitation and $5.00 per hour for monitored exchanges. 
All other in-house services are free of charge.  However, there may be fees for services referred outside of the Unit. The Court decides which party is responsible for payment.
 

I have been court-ordered to the Family Court Services Unit. Are they responsible for scheduling hearings in my case with the Judge or General Magistrate?
 

No.  All parties need to request hearings through their attorneys or, if they are not represented by an attorney, through the Family Court Self-Help Divorce Program.
 

I have a case in Family Court. Whom do I call if I have questions?
 

  1. For general case information, please contact the Clerk's Office at (305) 275-1155.
  2. If you are not represented by an attorney and are filing a divorce action, name change, paternity,
    child custody or post-judgment modification case,
    Click Here to learn more about the Family Court Self Help
    Divorce Program.
  3. If you have been court-ordered by a Judge or General Magistrate to the Family Court Services Unit for any of the Services and Interventions listed above, you may contact them at (305) 349-5508.
     

Who do I call if I am a person with a disability who needs assistance?

Please contact the Miami-Dade Courts' ADA Coordinator, at:

Voice Mail: (305) 349-7175
TDD: (305) 349-7174
Fax No:. (305) 349-7355
Email:. ADA@jud11.flcourts.org

 





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